When I got my road bike back in 2010 (my very first road bike and the one I still have today, by the way) I bought it with the purpose of being able to use it for duathlons. That is, events where you run, then bike, then run again. I did my first duathlon in... Read more »

So yesterday I wrote a post about something I’m not very good at. As a nice counterbalance, how about a post on something I am good at? You know, it’s actually a little bit difficult to write about something you’re really good at without trying to be humble. I can come up with all sorts... Read more »

I’ve been swimming in a 25 yard pool once a week since January. I’ve graduated from swimming in the basic beginner lane where we only went half the length of the lane before turning around to being in the group that does a 300 yard warm up, 400 yards of drills, and 675 yards of... Read more »

When I woke up on Sunday it was dark but not stormy. Jason and I left the apartment to pick up another of my Live Grit team members. With our bikes on the back of the car and our bags full of wetsuits, swim caps, bike shoes, running shoes, and other assorted paraphernalia we headed... Read more »

If tomorrow never comes, I’ll be happy: That I can deadlift more than my husband weighs That that same husband and I have been married for 12 years this week and we celebrated by winning a giant banana with a mustache at Dave & Buster’s ... Read more »

I signed up for the Live Grit CARA Lakefront 10 Miler because I wanted to support Live Grit. They’re the ones who are teaching me to swim. They’re the ones who answer all the silly questions I have about biking. They’re the ones who didn’t make me feel ridiculous for not knowing anything about wetsuits.... Read more »

When I last left you I was discussing how NOT to train for a half marathon. Well, I ran the South Shore Half Marathon and it’s official. You can ignore my advice. I clearly DO know how to train for a half marathon. Why do I say that? Because at the South Shore Half I... Read more »

As I mentioned a few months ago, I’ve been following a specific weight lifting plan and diet that has, overall, changed my body in ways that I like. Then, recently I read a blog post recently from a writer who wrote: You will become who you surround yourself with. If you hang around people who... Read more »

Hey guys, guess what! I’m signed up to run the South Shore Half Marathon on April 4th! Am I using a training plan? Nope. Have I run more than 8 miles at once since…uh… I don’t know when? Nope. Did I also sign up for the Live Grit Lakefront 10 Miler two weeks afterward? Yep.... Read more »

At my current job we recently started a Toastmasters club and I’m scheduled to give my first prepared speech next week. The topic? Icebreaker! I just have to talk about myself for 4-6 minutes. I’m typically much better at just winging it but in this case I actually wrote something down. And this is it.... Read more »

Meet The Blogger

Erin Vandenberg

I'm a 30-something who decided to get off the elliptical and expand my fitness horizons. Since moving to Chicago in 2008 I've run marathons and biked miles. I've done group fitness classes and lifted weights on my own. And now I want to share my fitness finds with you!